The struggling Hammers are desperate to bring in new recruits this month, with their lengthy injury list leaving them perilously short on numbers as they juggle Premier League survival with their FA Cup and Capital One Cup commitments.

Everton defender Johnny Heitinga looked close to becoming their first major signing of the window earlier this week but had a last minute change of heart.

And although Ivory Coast striker Lacina Traore looks set to join the club on loan, Allardyce predicts it will be hard to convince other targets to sign up for a bottom of the table scrap.

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